The Magoura cave with drawings from the bronze age

Date of Submission: 01/10/1984
Category: Cultural
Submitted by:
Commission Nationale de la R.P. de Bulgarie pour l'Unesco
Coordinates: Near the village of Rabisha, in the district of Vidin
Ref.: 45
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Description

The cave is located near the village of Rabisha, in the district of Vidin. The beginnings of the formation of the cave go back 15 million years ago on a hill which is 461 meters high. The cave has a number of accessible halls and galleries which were inhabited during the Bronze Age and which contain remnants of settlements and drawings on the walls. The remnants in the largest hall bear evidence to the existence of life from 3100 years to 900 years before our era - i.e. the early Iron Age. In one of the side galleries a large number of ritual drawings can be seen, which are among the masterpieces of late prehistoric art in Europe. In all probability, this gallery was a cult shrine of the cave prehistoric settlement. The Magoura Cave has been declared a monument of culture and a remarkable natural site. Provisions have been made for its preservation. The cave is open to visitors.